|
|
Post by yasmin on Sept 13, 2011 19:13:36 GMT
Can baby male degus be introduced to a neutered male without the neutered male being picked on?
Background: I adopted what were supposed to be four females from the local animal shelter only to find out, after one of them (Azure) had a miscarriage, that one of my females is a male. The male (Sean, aka Sienna) is now in a separate cage but another of my females, Lilac, is pregnant. I plan to keep the babies, males and females in separate cages, but that would mean that Sean will be alone until the babies are born and weaned.
If no male babies come from the lot then I plan to have him neutered and put back in the cage with the females. I could have him neutered now but I am afraid that he will be picked on by unneutered males if I end up splitting the males from the females. Any advice would be appreciated.
|
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Sept 13, 2011 20:20:26 GMT
He should be fine with them, and they with him. Although neutering can calm an aggressive male as a result of the reduction of testerone, especially if it is done before a year of age, it will not rob him of his social skills and ability to hold his own. He will still be very male in all other respects.
|
|
|
|
Post by yasmin on Sept 13, 2011 21:28:07 GMT
Thanks for the reply, deguconvert. I can have him neutered at any time – my exotics vet can do the surgery, but I am afraid of the risks. Do you think that his need to be with his sisters outweighs the risk of the surgery? Right now his cage is up against theirs but he has no physical contact with them. And he has at least two more months to go of separation. Your experienced opinion is appreciated.
|
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Sept 14, 2011 2:27:01 GMT
I think that if your Vet is competent, is experienced with Degu surgery, and Sean is in good health, he will endure the surgery well. He is close to his sisters, and I think that he would probably rather be with them than not. However, if you plan to separate your males from females once the pups are of an age ( 6-8 weeks old), keeping both sexes, than I wouldn't put him through the surgery and then separate him from the girls again. That would just be painful and then painful again. I think it would undermine him more than being separated from companionship by cage bars for a while.
|
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Sept 14, 2011 2:31:59 GMT
I just read a discussion you have also having with Davx on another thread, and now am not so sure about what I said above. I was thinking that the pups were already born, but since they are not, that changes things quite a bit. If you are seeing symptoms of loneliness, frustration, and aggitation, you should consider booking a neutering surgery with your vet as soon as possible. He is needing the companionship.
|
|
|
|
Post by yasmin on Sept 14, 2011 15:24:32 GMT
The pups were born last night. There are at least three of them. Mom, Lilac, is doing well and is getting lots of help from her sisters.
I am planning on separating males from females once the pups are of age and I don't want him to have to go through the surgery if he doesn't need to. But there's the chance that the third female, Peridot, might also be pregnant which would then add even more weeks to the six to eight he has still to endure. So, I think I will take him to the vet and have him neutered. I could later just leave him in with his sisters even if I separate out the male babies.
Thanks for your help. You've been a great support. Would be having trouble dealing with all this if it wasn't for this forum.
|
|
|
|
Post by Maravilla on Sept 14, 2011 15:32:15 GMT
You can check the babies sexes in a couple of days. If there is at least one male, I would wait until he is old enough (means 6 weeks) and then introduce him with his father. If there isn't any male I would have the father neutered, as you are not sure if the other lady is pregnant or not.
For degus it's all the same, being neutered or not. Surgery doesn't change the behaviour as only the testicles are removed but not the main source of testosterone production. That means that also neutered degus will fight if they feel like fighting. I know degu groups where neutered and not neutered males live together.
|
|
|
|
Post by yasmin on Sept 14, 2011 20:30:49 GMT
In a couple of days...that's good. I will try and sex them soon. Thanks Maravilla.
|
|
